Valve



Sept. 18, 1934.

G. B. NICLL I 1 VALVE Filed Augfso, 195o Patented Sept. 18, y1934 UNITED STATES VALVE Application August so, 1930,` serial No. 418,865 is claims. (cl. 21a-e5) My present invention relates tovvalves, and more particularly to a novel and improvedvalve for use in conjunction withbladders orother inflatable articles.

l An object of the present invention is the provision of a valve which will be simple to operate and which will be elcient in carrying out its function of sealing the article to which it is attached, aftersaid article has been inflated.` v Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision oi a valve constructed and arranged to t5 permit easy insertion and withdrawal of an m- Vhating tool, such as an inilatlng needle. l When utilizing valves in commotion with bladders for footballs, basketballs, soccerballs, and other play or sport balls, it is desirable that t@ these valves shall be relativeiylight in weight, and shall have no metallic parts adjacent to the outerfor exposed portion thereof.

In carrying out by present invention, l con- 4 struct the valve with a stem and a flange at the is upper end thereof for adhesion to the bladder to which the valve 'is attached. Through the stem I form an' all' passage, said passage extending only partially through the stem and communicating with "a recess, said recess in' turn communicating with a larger recess,'slot, or slit.

\ The bladder or other article towhich the valve is attached visinatable by means of an infiating tool such as a hollow needle.

'a5 with the air passage I place a device preferably of less rsilience than the material of the stem itself, said stem being preferably formed of relatively soft rubber. The device which is inserted in said vrecess is* of considerably greater size than the said recess. Thus, when the device is forced into said recess there will be a contracting of the material of the stem about said device, thus firmly sealing the end of the air .passage u which is adjacent to said device and preventing inadvertent deation of the inflated article. l'I'he device referred to is preferably a pin of hard rubber, although metal or any other suitable material of less resilienceY than the rubber of the stem may be utilized if desired. I may also "w utilize, in place of thepin referred to, a ball seated in said recess and functioning in the same manner as the pin aboverefe'rred to. Said pin -may be of any desirable shape, either cylindri- 5 cal, triangular in cross` section, or any other Fig. 9 is a, vertical sectional view illustrating .In 'the smalle!" recess .which communicates .formed integral therewith and radiating outing upwardly centrally of said stem, and an air passage 4 is formed throughl the nipple 3 Lsiderably greater size' than the recess 5, so that PATENT reloashape which will permit facile penetration of the valve by an infiating tool.

Other features of the invention, details of construction, and advantages, will be hereinafter morefully pointed out as the description of the invention progresses. l

Referring to the drawing, illustrating preferred embodiments o the invention,

Fig. l is a vertical central sectional view of my novel valve before application of the sealing. e5 device thereto;

Fig. 2 is a. bottom plan view of the valve of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View ci' the valve attached to an inflatable article;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line dof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with an iniiating tool in inilating position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating g5 a modified bottom or inner end of valve; VFiglisaview similartoFig.6witha-still further modified form oi valve end; i

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of my novel valve illustrating the use of a ball instead of a 30 pin or rod; and

a modified type of valve wherein ay pin or rod of triangular cross section is utilized as the sealing device. 35

Referring now to the drawing for a particular description of the invention, my. novel valve comprises a stem 1 having a flange 2 preferably wardly therefrom. A nipple 3 is formed project- 90 and partially through the stem 1, communicating, at its inner end with a recess 5, here illustrated as a tubular channel laterally through the stem 1. The recess 5 in turn communicates with the larger recess 6 formed at the open end of the stem 1. Into the recess or channel 5 I force a pin orrod 7, which is preferably of hard rubber, but which may be of any suitable material of less resilience than the material of the stem 1, said stem being .preferably formed of relatively soft rubber. The device 7 is of conwhen forced therein therewill be a compression of the rubber surrounding the device '7 and a contraction of said rubber around said device.

The stem of the valve as thus far formed is then inserted through a hole or aperture 9 in a bladder 8, the flange 2 being affixed to the 110 between the bladder 8 and the under surface of the flange 2. Preferably suflicient adhesive is provided to cause a flow of same through the hole 9 to adhere to the top of the stem 1, to further increase the adhesion and solidify the union between the valve and the bladder. The valve as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is now in condition `to receive a suitable inating tool such as the hollow needle 10 having an outlet 11 adjacent to its free end, the extreme end of said needle being rounded to prevent catching of the needle in the rubber of the valve as said needle is being forced therethrough.

As the needle 10 is inserted through the passage 4 it will come in contact with the device '1, displacing said device and permitting passage of the needle 10 by the same and into the recess 6, and thence to the interior of the bladder or other article to be inflated. When the article 8 has been iniiated to the desired degree, the needle 10 is withdrawn. Thereupon the device 'l will return to normal position and the contraction of the rubber of the stem 1 about the device 7 will thoroughly and eiectually seal the valve, preventing leakage of any air outwardly through the air passage 4.

The article 8 may be deflated in the same manner, that is, by inserting a hollow tool or needle as illustrated in Fig. 5, and permitting the air to exhaust through the needle. There will be no deflation of the bladder while the same is being inflated because of the fact that the needle 10 is of greater diameter than the passage 4,

, the contraction of the rubber of the stem l and nipple 3 about the needle sealing the article 8 at this point during ination.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a slightly modied type of stem wherein, instead of the recess 6, I provide the inner end of the stem with a slot 12 extending there across.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated a still further modiiication wherein a slit 13 is formed, communicating with the recess 5. Either of these forms of stem is satisfactory and their use is optional, it only being necessary that the recess, slot or slit be so formed as to permitthe entrance of the needle 10 thereinto after said needle has passed by the device 7.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a still further modication, wherein, in place of the tubular lateral channel 5, I provide a spherical recess, and press therein a ball 14, of hard rubber, metal, or other suitable or desirable material. y

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a triangular shaped channel 15 communicating with the air passage 4 and recess 6, and into this channel 15 I force the rod or device 16 which is triangular in cross section as illustrated in Fig. 9.

The various forms of pins illustrated herein are for illustrative purposes only, as any shape of pin may be utilized so long as the passage of the needle 10 through the valve is permitted.

The dilerent forms of pins, as well as the diierent forms of inner valve ends, are all within the range of the present invention, and since I believe that the valve illustrated and described herein is novel, I have, therefore, claimed the same broadly in this application.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

bladder 8 by suitable cement or other adhesive My invention is further described and dened in the form of claims as follows:

1. A valve for inatable articles, comprising a rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem, said stem having a recess therein communicating with one end of said air passage, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first reces and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached, and a sealing device conned in said first recess only by the material of said stem adjacent thereto and closing said air passage,

said sealing device being substantially surrounded by the walls of said recess.

2. A valve for inflatable articles, comprising a rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem, said stem having a recess therein communicating with one end of said air paage, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached, and a sealing device of greater size than said first reces confined in said recess by the material of said stem adjacent thereto and closing said air passage, said sealing device being substantially surrounded by the walls of said recess.

3. A valve for inflatable articles, comprising a rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem, and adapted to receive an inflating ldevice said stem having a recess therein communicating with one end of said air passage, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the imlatable article to which said article is attached, and a sealing device of greater size than said first recess located in said recess and substantially surrounded by the walls thereof and closing said air passage, said sealing device being of less resilience than said rubber stem and adapted to be displaced laterally with respect to said air passage by mid inflating device against the compression of the rubber of said stem.

4. A valve for iniiatable articles comprising a rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem, said stem having a recess extending laterally therethrough and communicating with one end of said air passage, said stern having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached, and an elongated sealing device of greater size than said first recess located in said rece and closing said air passage.

5. A valve for inatable articles comprising a rubber stem portion having an o pen ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem, said stem having a recess extending laterally therethrough and communicating with one end of said air passage, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said rst recess, and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached said second recess being positioned at an angle to said rst recess, and means confined in said first recess by the pressure of its walls to close said air passage.

6. A valve for inatable articles comprising a resilient rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through with one end of said a part of said stem and adapted to receive aninilating device, said stem having a recess extending laterally therethrough and communicating air passage, an elongated sealing device of greater diameter than the normal diameter of said recess, said sealing device being held in said recess by the compression of said resilient rubber, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the Vinflatable article to which said stem is attached, said sealing device being displaceable laterally with respect to said air passage by said inflating device.

7. A valve for inflatable articles comprising a resilient rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a part of said stem and adapted to receive an inilating device, said stem having a recess extending laterally therethrough and communicating with one end of said air passage, an elongated sealing device of greater diameter than the normal diameter of said recess, said sealing device being heldin said recess by the compression of' said resilient rubber only, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached, said sealing device being of such a shape as to permit the passage of the inflating device past the same and into said second recess, said sealing device being displaced laterally by said inflating device and returning to normal position on withdrawal of said inflating device, whereupon the compression of the resilient rubber stem will hold said sealing device in position to close said air passage.

8. A valve for inflatable articles comprising a resilient rubber stem portion having an open ended air passage extending longitudinally through a passage of the inflating part of said stem and adapted to receive an inilating device, said stern having a recess extending laterally therethrough and communicating with one end of said air passage, an elongated sealing device of greater diameter than the normal diameter of said recess, said sealing device being held in said recess by the compression of said resilient rubber only, said stem having a second recess therein communicating with said first recess and with the interior of the inflatable article to which said stem is attached, said sealing device being of such a. shape as to permit the device past the same and into said second recess, displaced laterally by said inflating `device and returning to normal position on withdrawal of said inflating device, whereupon the compression of the resilient rubber stem will hold said sealing device in position to close said air passage, said second recess being so arranged as to admit the inflating device thereto and therethrough. aftsaid sealing device being er'passage of said inflating device past said sealing device.

9. A valve for inflatable articles, comprising a rubber stem portion having a passage extending therethrough and adapted to receive an inflating device, and a sealing member embedded in the stem and normally disposed insaid passage and retained therein by the tension of the material of said stem adjacent thereto, said member being laterally displaceable by said inflating device in traversing the passage.

l0. A valve for inflatable articles, comprising a rubber stem portion having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough and adapted to freceive an inflating device, and a sealing member embedded in the stem, and of normally greater v diameter than the diameter of said passage normally disposed in said passage and retained therein by the tension of the material of said stem adjacent thereto, said member being laterally displaceable by said inflating device in traversing the passage.

11. An all-rubber valve for inflatable articles comprising a rubber stem formed with a passage therethrough and adapted to receive a hollow inflating tool, a rubber sealing member fitted within said stem and lying wholly intermediate the ends of said passage and normally closing said passage and preventing escape of air therethrough, said stem and member being of such relative size and resiliency to normally close the passage by the stresses in the contacting parts oi said stem and member and sufliciently yielding to permit the passage of said inflating tool.

l2. A valve of the kind described for inflatable articles, comprising a rubber neck portion `with a passage therethrough, and a rubber member sealing said passage and lying wholly intermediate the ends of the passage, said member and vstem being normally under stress to effect the sealing, and both said stem and member cooperating to afford sufticient yielding to permit an inflating tool to be applied through said passage and beyond the sealing member.

13. An all-rubber valve for inflatable articles comprising a rubber stem portion formed with a passage therethrough adapted to guide a hollow inflating tool, a rubber member blocking and sealing said passage within the inner portion intermediate the end openings of the passage, said member having a greater diameter than that o the passage where said member is in contact with the walls of said passage to effect the sealing action, said member being held in position in the inner portion of the passage by the stresses of the rcontacting parts of stem and member, and said stem and member being sufliciently yielding to permit the passage of the inflating tool.

GEORGE B. NICOLL. 

